Player Watch #7: Zane Duursma - staying at North in 2026

[FlyHigh18]

Some people are going to look real dumb when this kid makes it

honestly hope he does, we need it so bad.

but at this stage all he's shown is that he hasn't copped very well with AFL level footy and training.

oh and that one mark of course. i don't want to upset anyone.

 

[King Corey]

Some people are going to look real dumb when this kid makes it

True but most of the traffic will be on the Essendon board so we won't see it.

 

[King Patty]

Its a real make it or break it year for Duursma.
It would be interesting to see how many best 22 sides he starts in.
I think Pies might go hard again for Jy Simpkin

12

Jy Simpkin

Age

27

Ht

183cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

8.1

5star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.3

5star

CL

2.9

4star

D

20.6

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

9.6

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.5

4star

CL

5.5

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

.

If Duursma doesn't get games, likely requests a trade, and will be more like a late pick. Or even delistment like us with Hobbs this year.

North might look at moving a few players on, due to having a lot of mids.

 

[king of the road]

Some people are going to look real dumb when this kid makes it

I’d be as bold as to say there will be people looking dumb even if he doesn’t make it.

People just look real dumb quite regularly.

 

[king of the road]

Some good footage and commentary from the family here.

 

[BrownPaperBag]

I don’t think anyone thinks he isn’t any good, the point is we need him to show it. He can’t be upset at the opportunities afforded to him so far when he simply hasn’t performed. We need to be past the carrying of players who can’t get a kick.

Talent is an important component but it needs production as well.

I think if he finds a way to turn the talent into results he can be a fantastic player but we need him to find that way.

 

[zoomba23]

I don’t think anyone thinks he isn’t any good, the point is we need him to show it. He can’t be upset at the opportunities afforded to him so far when he simply hasn’t performed. We need to be past the carrying of players who can’t get a kick.

Talent is an important component but it needs production as well.

I think if he finds a way to turn the talent into results he can be a fantastic player but we need him to find that way.

The family sentiment is all talent, talent talent. No one's going around saying he's one of the hardest workers they've ever come across. It's such a simple formula. Come on, Zane, you campaigner

 

[Chip Scab1]

Some good footage and commentary from the family here.

Any good news re Zane is welcomed. But, depending on the family, I'm not sure if asking them will garner an accurate response.

Asking my brother anything about me would be met with "I don't ****ing know, I see him for dinner once a week, maybe".

Its a real make it or break it year for Duursma.
It would be interesting to see how many best 22 sides he starts in.
I think Pies might go hard again for Jy Simpkin.

If Duursma doesn't get games, likely requests a trade, and will be more like a late pick. Or even delistment like us with Hobbs this year.

North might look at moving a few players on, due to having a lot of mids.

It's make or break for;
Simpkin, Banch, Goater probably, Stephens, Corr, Logue, Hansen Jr, Bailey Scott, Zac Fisher, CCJ, Powell likely.

Why we throwing away a pick 4 in a superdraft who's had injuries and just turned 20? That sort of idiocy is usually reserved for the dickheads at Tulla.

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

I like Duursma...

 

[CBSlogger]

One of my kids is clearly more talented than their siblings, but does coast through on that talent. Plays high level but not the highest.

My other 2 have work ethic to the wazoo, and it holds them in very good stead away from sport.

Would i love to see the work ethic of my hardest working kid in the most talented one? Sure, it'd be interesting but they are who they are, very hard to change that.

I'm rooting for Zane to see that penny drop and fulfil his obvious potential, but the family commentary doesn't fill me with a great deal of hope tbh.

 

[King Patty]

Why we throwing away a pick 4 in a superdraft who's had injuries and just turned 20? That sort of idiocy is usually reserved for the dickheads at Tulla.

Its probably more him looking for new pastures, as I'm sure we will be in the same boat with Tsatas as well if he doesn't have a good year, especially after us drafting mids.

North just threw away a pick 3 and we threw away a pick 13. Sometimes its better to move them on, than hope they come good.

 

[zoomba23]

Its probably more him looking for new pastures, as I'm sure we will be in the same boat with Tsatas as well if he doesn't have a good year, especially after us drafting mids.

North just threw away a pick 3 and we threw away a pick 13. Sometimes its better to move them on, than hope they come good.

We're not giving you him for Tsatas, mate

 

[King Patty]

We're not giving you him for Tsatas, mate

I didn't say that, but being uncontracted they are both worth less.
Tsatas is the last bloke North needs, wouldn't get a game.

 

[roosmad]

Its a real make it or break it year for Duursma.
It would be interesting to see how many best 22 sides he starts in.
I think Pies might go hard again for Jy Simpkin.

If Duursma doesn't get games, likely requests a trade, and will be more like a late pick. Or even delistment like us with Hobbs this year.

North might look at moving a few players on, due to having a lot of mids.

theres a reason you post on your own club board and not others and this clearly is it.....
Pies will go after Rowell bigtime....darrrrr.....
delisted clearly you are stupid....
oh and now comparing him to Hobbs, stupid part 2.....
north see Duursma as part of the future, his work ethic sucked and was told clearly several times last year, has come back with an elevated fitness level...

piss off back to the scum board.....

 

[Chip Scab1]

Its probably more him looking for new pastures, as I'm sure we will be in the same boat with Tsatas as well if he doesn't have a good year, especially after us drafting mids.

North just threw away a pick 3 and we threw away a pick 13. Sometimes its better to move them on, than hope they come good.

They are nothing alike.

Tsatas is talentless cat, Zane is known as BGZ. When Tsatas attains the nickname BGT, they can be thought to be similar.

How many shoulder reco's has your cat had?

He barely finds the foot with ball (from his own hand).... how you could think they're similar in any way is some of the most absurd shit I've ever heard.

 

[King Corey]

Let's be very clear - I've questioned his buy-in but not his talent.

If he looked half eager to be part of the place long term I probably would've given him a 3-4 year deal just on potential.

It's disappointing he's dragging things into his first contract year because I'd be confident the club would've liked to have had him locked away and focus all energy into his development. Instead we'll need to keep an eye on list management.

 

[Johnny99]

I think Pies might go hard again for Jy Simpkin.

LOL Go Hard? They offered a future second.

 

[BrownPaperBag]

.

It's make it break for;
Simpkin, Banch, Goater probably, Stephens, Corr, Logue, Hansen Jr, Bailey Scott, Zac Fisher, CCJ, Powell likely.

George, Stevens, Urqhart,

 

[King Patty]

LOL Go Hard? They offered a future second.

They will likely offer that second rounder again
Nick Daicos says he wants Pies to challenge.

 

[Chip Scab1]

George, Stevens, Urqhart,

George and Urquhart? No.

We can't turn over 15.

Maybe 10.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

George and Urquhart? No.

We can't turn over 15.

Maybe 10.

Corr, Fisher, CCJ, Scott, RHJ (reluctantly as I reckon he has something), Darling (ret.), Steven’s (to the rookie list).

That’s seven. Gets tough from there.

 

[BrownPaperBag]

George and Urquhart? No.

We can't turn over 15.

Maybe 10.

Why ? They both need to show something they shouldn’t be automatically safe

 

[Chip Scab1]

Corr, Fisher, CCJ, Scott, RHJ (reluctantly as I reckon he has something), Darling (ret.), Steven’s (to the rookie list).

That’s seven. Gets tough from there.

Enough probably.

Next group: Banch, Daniel, McDonald, Simpkins, Stephens.

All of them are under the pump to improve-again in Stephens case, to finding it or again in Simpkins case, McDonalds keep 2025 form going.

Why ? They both need to show something they shouldn’t be automatically safe

Because we have so many who need to show something, anything. IMO those two are not even in the spotlight.

 

[King Patty]

Simpkins, Stephens.

They are both contracted. So needs to be a trade for Simpkin.
Stephens played 21 games, assume he would be safe given contracted and plenty of other candidates.
Konstanty played a lot of games also, so might earn new contract. But North have a decent small forward now in Dovaston.

 

[Chip Scab1]

I didn't say that, but being uncontracted they are both worth less.
Tsatas is the last bloke North needs, wouldn't get a game.

They are both contracted. So needs to be a trade for Simpkin.
Stephens played 21 games, assume he would be safe given contracted and plenty of other candidates.
Konstanty played a lot of games also, so might earn new contract. But North have a decent small forward now in Dovaston.

I'd love if Dyl and Turncoat never played another game.. have them for free, I don't care enough to wait around for a shit trade to eventuate. Happy enough to have the room in our salary cap back.